Continued growth and strong operational performance

Murphy is pleased to announce its financial results for the year ended 31 December 2024, reflecting continued growth and strong operational performance, building on the progress achieved in 2023.

Murphy has continued to deliver key critical infrastructure and, just one year out from the company’s 75th anniversary, is well-placed to deliver on its vision of becoming the leading family-owned construction company.

John Murphy, Chief Executive Officer of Murphy, commented:

“I’m pleased to share that we’ve delivered another strong year of growth, marked by consistent year-on-year improvements in both our financial results and operational performance, while remaining firmly committed to delivering world-class infrastructure. These achievements reflect the dedication and capability of our people, our continued emphasis on sustainable business practices, and the strength of our customer relationships.

“Throughout 2024, we successfully navigated economic pressures, changes in government policy and inflationary pressures, demonstrating the Group’s resilience. The sector’s significant investments in transportation, water and energy infrastructure, underpins our confidence in the future with Murphy well-positioned to capitalise on the opportunities these investments bring.

“As we look ahead to our 75th anniversary in 2026, our ‘Murphy at 75’ vision, to be the leading family-owned construction business in the regions where we operate, is firmly within sight. Our primary focus remains on achieving long-term, sustainable growth, built on our ability to deliver reliable, high-quality outcomes for our customers and to leave a positive, lasting impact through our work and in the communities we support.”

Key project highlights included:

  • Completing civil works at Oswestry Water Treatment Works for United Utilities, marking significant progress on this critical infrastructure project.
  • Successfully completing tunnelling activities on London Power Tunnels 2 (“LTP2”) as part of our Hochtief Murphy joint venture for National Grid.
  • Delivering significant new stations at both Beaulieu and Cambridge on behalf of Network Rail.
  • Making strong progress on the Twinstead Green Grid Supply Point for National Grid, including installation of the first Super Grid Transformer.
  • Securing the first transportation contract in Ontario with our joint venture partner Kenaidan.

Financial and operational highlights:

  • Revenue reduced by 2% to £1,398m (FY23: £1,421m), reflecting our focus around customer and contract selectivity.  We saw a volume reduction in Canada following the completion of two major projects, although this was offset by our investment in WHC Energy Services in the USA and solid year-on-year growth in both the UK and Ireland, highlighting the strength and resilience of Murphy’s geographically diverse business model.
  • Operating profit increased 11% to £79.6m (2023: £71.7m), driven by strong performance across all areas of the business and a continued focus on operational efficiency and high-quality project delivery.
  • Net cash increased 15% to £400.5m (FY23: £347.1m), supporting ongoing investment in business growth, innovation, and sustainability-focused projects.
  • Employee numbers increased by 5% to 4,060, up from 3,855 in 2023, as Murphy continues to develop talent while creating a diverse, inclusive and engaged workforce.
  • We sustained our Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate (LTIFR) at 0.06 as we continued to grow internationally demonstrating a sustained commitment to the highest standards of health and safety across all operations and increased activity levels.

Sustainability highlights:

  • Achieved a 6.1% reduction in carbon emissions versus 2023, culminating in a total reduction of 54% since 2019, marking our achievement of the Murphy at 75 emissions reduction target one year ahead of schedule.
  • Invested £23.0m in state-of-the-art, environmentally conscious plant and equipment across the UK and Ireland in 2024.

Outlook:

  • Continued strong performance during the opening months of 2025 while proactively managing the macroeconomic challenges facing the wider construction sector.
  • Record order book of £5.4bn across the UK, Ireland and North America, a strong balance sheet and the pressing need for infrastructure investment underpins confidence in the future.
  • Industry investment in our chosen sectors  continues, presenting growing opportunities in energy, water and transport, as demonstrated by the recently awarded Accelerated Strategic Transmission Investment (“ASTI”) programmes for National Grid and SSEN, along with the award of the development phase of the $1 billion Bloor-Yonge Station Capacity Improvement project in Toronto, Canada.
  • Investment in a 40% share of Australia’s Abergeldie Complex Infrastructure, announced on 5 May 2025, marking the latest step in Murphy’s plans to extend its geographical reach whilst remaining focused on the commitment to improve life by delivering world-class infrastructure.
  • Proven success in sectors such as energy security and infrastructure investment, along with continued growth in traditional markets, strengthens confidence in the Group’s strategic direction and long-term growth plans.

You can read the full report here.

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Full Year Results for the year ended 31 December 2024
  • Strong, sustained growth driven by continued operational excellence
  • Future confidence underpinned by record £5.4bn order book

Murphy has formed a strategic partnership with Australia-based Abergeldie Complex Infrastructure.

Headquartered in Sydney, Abergeldie Complex Infrastructure was established in 1994 by Mick Boyle and his wife Robin Craig and has grown steadily since then, expanding its operational presence across Australia and New Zealand. 

The business today employs over 800 skilled professionals and enjoyed a record performance in 2024, designing and delivering a range of projects across the utilities, road, rail and energy sectors.

Alongside this shared sector expertise, Murphy and Abergeldie share a proud heritage as family-owned businesses with strong commitments to community engagement and people-focused organisational values.  Both businesses share values of respect, integrity, trust and accountability.

This shared culture and sector expertise positions Murphy well to support Abergeldie on the next stage of its development, enhancing Abergeldie’s capability to deliver larger-scale infrastructure projects while maintaining its independence.

The investment in Abergeldie, a 40% stake in the business, marks the latest step in Murphy’s expansion. Having originally focused on the UK and Ireland since the Group was founded in 1951, Murphy has diversified geographically in to North America, delivering projects across both Canada and the United States. The Group established a presence in Canada in 2014 through a fully integrated joint venture with Surerus Pipeline Inc and expanded into the US with the acquisition of WHC Energy Services in 2023.

The transaction is expected to complete in May.

Commenting on the investment, John Murphy, Chief Executive Officer of Murphy, said:

“Having expanded into North America in recent years, this investment marks the latest step in our plans to extend our geographical reach whilst remaining focused on our commitment to improving life by delivering world-class infrastructure.

“I am delighted that we have been able to find a partner who shares so many of the same values as us.

“We are very positive on the outlook for the Australian market and I am looking forward to working with the Abergeldie team to help them deliver on the next exciting stage of their growth plans, building on the great work they have done over the past thirty years.”

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Abergeldie Complex Infrastructure was established in 1994 by its husband and wife co-founders and is now one of Australia’s leading independent infrastructure contractors with turnover of $676m (AUD) in 2024
  • The transaction will see Murphy acquire a 40% stake in Abergeldie, further diversifying Murphy across the UK, Ireland, North America and now the ANZ region